Glossary

Junior WRCThe WRC’s young talent series, formerly called the WRC Academy. It is open to drivers aged 28 and under (born on or after 1 January 1987) who compete in identical two-wheel drive, Citroën DS 3 R3-MAX cars. The 2015 calendar comprises seven rounds of the WRC and drivers must nominate six to score points towards the final championship standings.

Media Zone Location at the entrance to the service park where media speak to competitors at the end of each morning and afternoon loop. Crews conduct interviews before checking-in at their allotted time.

OTLOver time limit. Competitors arriving more than 30 minutes later than the target time between two time controls are said to be OTL and must retire from the day’s competition.

Pace Notes A description of the road ahead, called out by the co-driver to inform the driver of what is coming up. Pace notes are made during the pre-event reconnaissance. As they recce each stage twice at limited speed, drivers describe the road and any hazards to their co-drivers, who write the information in a form of shorthand. During the rally, the co-driver reads the notes back to the driver at speed. See recce.

Parc fermé The secure area where all competing rally cars are housed at the completion of each day of the rally.

Power Stage The Power Stage forms the final stage of a rally and benefits from live television coverage. The length is a minimum of 10 kilometres and on European events runs at approximately midday. Bonus points (3-2-1) are awarded to the fastest three drivers.

Priority (P) driversDrivers are ranked in entry lists according to the following criteria: First Priority drivers (P1): Drivers of World Rally Cars who are, or who have been, entered by a registered Manufacturer or WRC Team. Also drivers who have finished inside the top-10 in a WRC rally held in the last two seasons. Second Priority drivers (P2): Drivers of World Rally Cars who have won a support championship in either of the two previous seasons. Also, drivers proposed by an organiser to the FIA and whose entry is supported by a letter from the drivers’ ASN and whose results justify P2 inclusion. Third Priority drivers (P3): Drivers who are eligible to score points in an FIA support championship.

Rally 2 Drivers who retire on the first and second days of a rally can re-start the following day under the Rally 2 system, providing their car is safe to do so and has been repaired within the regulations. They incur a seven-minute penalty for every stage they miss, including the one on which they retired. Drivers who retire on the last stage before an overnight regroup will incur a ten-minute penalty.

Recce Before every rally, drivers and co-drivers spend two days practising the route at a maximum speed (set by rally organisers) of between 50 and 70kph. Crews are allowed two passes through each stage to familiarise themselves with the route and make pace notes, defining the length of a straight, severity of a bend and even where to place the car for an upcoming blind crest.

Recce Car A largely standard road car which the driver and co-driver use to recce the route before the rally starts to prepare pace notes.

RegroupCrews congregate in a regroup following a loop of stages to allow time gaps in the running order to be closed up if cars have retired or encountered delays

Citroen DS 3/ Mikko Hirvonen

Remote ServiceA service period that takes place away from the service park at an outside location. Only parts carried in the rally car itself can be changed.

RestrictorTo limit engine output to around 300bhp, the FIA requires all WRC-specification engines to be fitted with a 33mm diameter inlet restrictor which limits the flow of fuel/air to the combustion chambers. Without a restrictor, engines would produce more than 500bhp.

Road BookA set of instructions and route maps issued to each crew by rally organisers.

Road SectionSometimes called a liaison section, this is the public road which links the special stages, service points and parc fermé. Drivers must obey all applicable traffic laws on road sections.

Roll Cage A structure of high carbon steel tubes welded inside the passenger compartment designed to keep the driver and co-driver safe in an impact or roll-over.

Running OrderThe order in which competitors tackle the stages. The running order (also called the start order) for the opening two days is determined by the drivers’ championship standings, with the leader going first. On day three, crews tackle the stages in the rally classification reversed – with the leader going last. This seeding applies to Priority 1 and 2 drivers only. Priority 1 cars that retire and restart the next day run before all the P1 and P2 crews.